Method and apparatus for storing food products

ABSTRACT

A doughnut-shaped container for food such as cotton candy is disclosed. The cotton candy is inserted into the container using a mechanized process, but can also be manually inserted. A customer removes a specially fitted top lid to access the food.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to a doughnut-shaped device for storing single servings of food products such as cotton candy.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Food products such as cotton candy are typically packaged either in bags or on a stick. However, these packaging techniques result in products that can be easily stolen and are hard to store and to reliably determine status of inventory. The most widely-known way of packaging cotton candy is using a sanitary stick, which can be inserted directly into a customer's mouth. Unfortunately, cotton candy thus arrayed is subject to breaking down due to humidity, and thus has a limited shelf-life. Additionally, storing the cotton candy within a package requires significant manual labor.

To overcome these problems, companies such as Flava Puff™ (www.flavapuff.com) ship their cotton candy products in a sealed cup. However, it is difficult to stack these cups. Also, the Flava Puff product must be manually packaged, and is not part of a mechanized process. Consequently, a conveniently stackable cotton candy device capable of mechanization is desired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the upper and lower portions of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the upper and lower portions of FIG. 1 combined together in a snug fit;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the lower portion of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the upper portion of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the present invention mounted on a pole; and

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the present invention during a loading process.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a lower portion 104 combines with an upper portion 108 to form a doughnut-shaped food container 100. An upward extending surface 124 is located at the top of the lower portion 104, for engaging with a corresponding beveled surface 128 of the upper portion 108.

FIG. 2 shows the upper 108 and lower 104 surfaces combined. The upward extending surface 124 exists in close contact with the beveled surface 128, to form a snug, air-sealed fit. An entry aperture 116 accommodates the entry of food products, while the exit aperture 112 is sized to permit air but not food products to escape.

FIGS. 3 and 4 more clearly illustrate the doughnut-shaped aspects of the food container 100. FIG. 3 shows that there are both interior and exterior beveled surfaces 128 i and 128 e. Similarly, in FIG. 4 it is apparent that there are both interior and exterior upward extending surfaces numbered 124 i and 124 e. When the container 100 is assembled (FIG. 2), the interior surfaces 124 i, 128 i fit snugly with each other, as do the exterior surfaces 124 e, 128 e. As with a doughnut, a hole exists in the middle of the fully-assembled container 100.

The container 100 can also be equipped with a plurality of ridges or striations on the outward facing edge of the upper and lower portions, to make it easier for a user to grip and twist the portions in opposite directions so as to separate the portions and access the food inside. Ideally, the striations are positions on opposite sides, although other angles and locations could be used. The intent is to provide a user with a way of reliably gripping the surfaces. As long as this intent is achieved, the striations could be located anywhere.

The loading of the container 100 will now be described. To ease this process and to provide additional aid in the unloading of container 100, the outward facing edge of both the lower portion 104 and the upper portion 108 of container 100 will include a plurality of ridges or striations thereby enabling a user to grasp and rotate the two portions in opposite directions. Although the description herein references cotton candy, the present invention should not be considered as limited solely thereto, and can store other types of processable food items. Cotton candy is manufactured by using a motorized spinning mechanism in which treated sugar is poured. The mechanism contains a heating element which heats the sugar as it is spun. The spinning motion of the mechanism causes the heated sugar to be ejected from the mechanism in the form of weblike strands. These strands are collected in a cylindrically shaped vessel 600, as shown in FIG. 6.

Normally the vessel 600 is open at its top, so that the cotton candy contained therein can be manually placed onto sticks or into bags. However, the present invention provides an automated mechanism for storing the cotton candy. In the present invention, the vessel 600 can be entirely sealed. Using a compressed air system, cotton candy is forced from the vessel into the closed, doughnut-shaped food container 100 through a removable connecting tube 604. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 6, the entry aperture 116 is large enough to accept cotton candy, the movement of which is driven by compressed air. Conversely, exit aperture 112 is small enough to permit passage of air but not of cotton candy.

The entry aperture 116 can be threaded, or have a sealing lip for accepting the connecting tube 604. Other connection means could also be employed, as long as the end result is a secure seal between entry aperture 116 and connecting tube 604.

After loading of the food product, both exit and entry apertures 112, 116 can be resealed, thereby preventing entry of moisture and greatly increasing the shelf-life of the product contained therein. Additionally, dessicant packets could be included in the containers 100 prior to loading. Finally, the food product could be vacuum loaded so that all air is removed until a customer opens the container 100.

In an alternative embodiment, the cotton candy mixture is manually inserted into the lower portion 104 of the container 100, where the lid 108 is then securedly placed onto the container 100. In such an environment, exit and entry apertures 112, 116 are not needed.

FIG. 5 shows four of the food containers 100 stacked on a pole 504. Thus stackable, the food product contained therein is more easily inventoried than other types of containers, and is also more difficult to shoplift.

Consumer research has shown that toroidal or doughnut-shaped devices are construed by potential customers as friendly, harmless, and interesting. The container 100 can be manufactured from plastic, nylon, lexan, or any of a wide variety of compositions suitable for food packaging. Because of this flexibility, the container 100 can be manufactured in a wide variety of colors, including glow-in-the-dark, and can be specially treated with color pigments which reflect or respond well to blacklighting, such as at carnivals. Further, a harmless, inert chemical which causes glowing can be included in the cotton candy or other food products stored within the container 100.

It is anticipated that various changes may be made in the arrangement and operation of the system of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the following claims. 

1. A disposable food container, comprising: upper and lower portions which combine to form a hollow doughnut-shaped device; said lower portion containing an outstanding edge extending from a top edge of said lower portion, wherein said outstanding edge protrudes in the same direction which is beveled inwardly to be narrower than said top edge; said upper portion containing a recessed edge extending from a bottom edge of said upper portion, wherein said recessed edge protrudes in the same direction but is beveled outwardly to be narrower than said bottom edge; wherein said upper portion can be removedly attached to said lower portion; and wherein said upper portion remains in place through the urging of said outstanding edge against an interior surface of said upper portion.
 2. The container of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of ridges or striations in an outward facing edge of said upper and lower portions positioned on opposite sides of said upper and lower portions respectively, for enabling a user to grasp and rotate said upper and lower portions in opposite directions.
 3. The container of claim 1, wherein said upper and lower portions of said container consist of clear or colored plastic.
 4. The container of claim 1, further comprising: wherein said container is manufactured using glow-in-the-dark plastic; or wherein said container is painted, coated, or treated to make it glow in the dark.
 5. The container of claim 1, wherein said food product is treated with a harmless, inert, digestible chemical which produces a glow-in-the-dark effect.
 6. The container of claim 1, further comprising: exit and entry apertures located on said lower portion; wherein said entry aperture is large enough in diameter to accept a charge of processed food; wherein said exit aperture is small enough in diameter to pass air but prevent the escape of processed food; and wherein after said container is filled, both apertures can be resealed.
 7. The container of claim 1, further comprising: wherein said container includes an isolated dessicant for purposes of food quality and preservation.
 8. A method of filling a food container, comprising: collecting a mass of processed food in a vessel; connecting said vessel to a plurality of said containers; and transferring said food from said vessel into said containers.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the above steps of connecting and transferring further comprise: holding said vessel and said container under vacuum during the transfer of said food from said vessel; wherein said container is permanently sealed while still under vacuum.
 10. A method of stacking and displaying said food containers, comprising: stacking a plurality of said containers on a pole; wherein said pole is positioned through the hole in said containers, thereby deterring shoplifting and allowing said containers to be more easily inventoried while on display. 